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The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance companies prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans may not cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations . When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the United States may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties, whereas travelers who have purchased overseas medical insurance have found it to be life saving when a medical emergency has occurred. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. If an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler. Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, REMEMBER to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States. Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition. THE SOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE PROGRAM DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL COSTS OUTSIDE THE U.S.A. Senior citizens may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.
To facilitate identification in case of an accident, complete the information page on the inside of your passport providing the name, address and telephone number of someone to be contacted in an emergency. A traveler going abroad with any preexisting medical problems should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic name of prescribed drugs. Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics. A listing of addresses and telephone numbers of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is contained in Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts. This publication may be obtained through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Also available from the Government Printing Office is Health Information for International Travel by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This contains a global rundown of disease and immunization advice and other health guidance, including risks in particular countries. The CDC maintains the international travelers hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), an automated faxback service at 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299) and a home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov.
Some countries require foreign visitors to have inoculations or medical tests before entering. Before traveling, check the latest entry requirements with the foreign embassy of the country to be visited. Click here for Emergency Information Click here for lists of Doctors/Hospitals abroad. Click here for the SARS Notice. Click here for the Avian Flu Fact Sheet. Click here for Foot and Mouth Disease Fact Sheet Click here for the Chemical/Biological Agents Fact Sheet Click here for information on Responding to Radiological and Nuclear Incidents. Source: US State Department
Bon Voyage! ”Tenga un viaje seguro! Ayez un voyage sūr! Have a safe trip!
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HERE'S THE FINE
PRINT: Copyright © 1999-2008 by Sunburst Worldwide Insurance Services. CA Insurance License #0B65721Warning: All of the pages on this site are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction by any means or for any purpose, except as specified on certain pages, is not allowed without the express written permission of the copyright owner.
Special police for Beijing games The Chinese authorities say they have established a special military unit to provide security for the Beijing Olympics next year. Sub-Saharan Africa - Kenya May 5, 2007 Kenya Airways plane crashed A Kenya Airways plane that crashed in Cameroon on Saturday has been found submerged in a swamp and there is no chance of any survivors, officials say. Europe - France France opens fastest railway link Mar. 15, 2007 France's fastest rail link to date has been inaugurated with the service's first train travelling from Paris to the east on Thursday afternoon. Trains on the line are set to travel at 320km/h (200mph). The service will open to passengers on 10 June when they will be able to travel further east to other EU states.
Ban on liquids expanded for all international flights Feb. 26, 2007 Tokyo, Japan: In a move aimed at further thwarting terrorist attacks, passengers on all international flights will be prohibited from bringing aboard liquids in containers larger than 100 milliliters starting Thursday Europe - Russia Explosion in Russian McDonald's Feb. 19, 2007 An explosion at a McDonald's restaurant in the Russian city of St Petersburg has slightly injured six people with concussion and cuts from flying glass.
Americas - Mexico 'Safest city' now has drug war Feb. 16, 2007 Monterrey, Mexico:: An affluent city just two hours from Texas is the newest battleground in a war between drug cartels Sub-Saharan Africa - Guinea Guinea Airport Situation Feb. 14, 2007 This warden message is being issued to update American citizens regarding information on Air France flights out of Guinea. A flight left Guinea for Paris yesterday. We believe Air France will try to operate flights to Paris starting Thursday, February 15 to Sunday February 19, 2007. East Asia / Pacific - Indonesia Bird flu virus kills Indonesian Feb. 9, 2007 West Java, Indonesia A 20-year-old woman in Indonesia who tested positive for bird flu has died, becoming the country's 64th human victim, a health official said
Americas - Brazil SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) -- Slick runways at Brazil's busiest airport will undergo major overhauls this month after officials tried to ban wide-body jets because of fears they could skid off its short landing strips, the airport's authority said Thursday.
East Asia / Pacific - Vietnam Vietnam plans new railway link Feb. 6, 2007 Hanoi: The Vietnamese authorities have approved plans to build a $33bn (£15bn) rail link between the capital, Hanoi, to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. New Thailand airport off to rough start Feb. 2, 2007 BANGKOK, Thailand - The taxiways are cracked, the terminal has leaks and some airlines even wonder whether it's safe to fly into Thailand's new international airport. Australians warned about crime in Caribbean Feb. 2, 2007SYDNEY, Australia: The foreign affairs department said in an official travel advisory that fans needed to be aware of safety issues at the World Cup, to be hosted by six Caribbean nations from March 10 until April 28. "In some parts of the Caribbean, violent crime, including armed robbery, kidnapping and murder is common," the advisory said.
UK Updated Polonium-210 Information Jan. 31, 2007Europe - United Kingdom: This information is meant primarily for Americans who were in Britain from November through December 2006. It is an update to the December 11, 2006 warden message concerning events in the UK involving the radioactive material Polonium-210, which have caused concerns for possible public health risks.
Islamabad Marriott
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Copyright © 1999-2007 by Sunburst Worldwide Insurance Services. CA Insurance License #0B65721Warning: All of the pages on this site are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws. Reproduction by any means or for any purpose, except as specified on certain pages, is not allowed without the express written permission of the copyright owner.
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